I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson is a first person-POV historical romantic fantasy set after the fall of Troy. After Ajax and Lesser’s attack against Cassandra in Athena’s temple, two Locrian women are sent every year to Ilion (another name for Troy) to run to the temple while the local men try to kill them. No Locrian woman has returned to Locris and it is assumed all have been killed. Lia is a descendant of Ajax and a Locrian princess who has trained most of her life to finally end this custom and free her country from this terror, but the other maiden who goes with her is someone she doesn’t want to lose and she has a spark with a young Ilion man who has secrets of his own.

The love interest, Jason, does show up early on, but he does disappear for chunks at a time from the narrative until about the halfway mark. Having finished the book and after reading the blurb for the sequel, I can see how the structure was meant to set up the complicated arranged marriage in Lia’s future as well as the possibly epic stakes that could come out further in the narrative. Because of this, A Tribute of Fire felt more like a historical fantasy that grows into a romantic fantasy that could tip into a fantasy romance in book two rather than a fantasy romance from the get go.

Jason and Lia have a steamier relationship that delves into Lia’s jealousy towards Jason’s past relationships with women. Lia does a lot of assuming about what Jason has and has not done, but he also doesn’t do anything to set her straight if she’s wrong, letting her think what she will as long as she keeps talking to him. This shows self-confidence on Jason’s end, that he knows who he is despite what other people think of him, but it also shows that he’s not really thinking about how leaving Lia in the dark could impact how she thinks of him or could make her self-conscious. It’s very give-and-take and I think he eventually kind of gets it, but only after Lia kind of pushes him.

The fantasy aspects are fairly limited in this first book. It’s a lot more focused on it’s historical setting of Troy and Locris after the Trojan War and maybe the goddess is real, maybe she’s not, but she definitely is. What was really interesting to me is that we don’t have any confirmation if the goddess is meant to be Athena despite the original myth firmly stating it is Athena’s temple that the original crime was committed in. The goddess’s name is never revealed and she’s referred to as an Earth goddess but also as specularly beautiful, so she could be Athena or Persephone or Aphrodite or a goddess I’m not familiar with a creation of Sariah Wilson’s.

I would recommend this to fans of narrative that imagine what could have happened after the Trojan War, readers looking for a historical romantic fantasy that could become an epic fantasy romance down the line, and those drawn to stories about young women trying to save other young women from a horrific fate.

I truly enjoyed A Tribute to fire. I have never read a story from this author and even with that being the case I will say I truly enjoyed the writing. This was a very interesting story and though I didn't know much about it going in, I found myself intrigued at every page. I am a sucker for world building and this book achieved that to the max for me, so much that I felt I was in the story itself ! I did enjoy Lias character and her dynamic with her sisters and those around her. There are times I felt she was a bit rash with certain decisions. However, I chalked up to her, not really having the experience in these areas. I feel her character was very strong and smart in battle which made the "death" race more exciting and full of action. Her devotion to Quynah also for me contributed to the emotion and adventure. I also enjoy the push and pull between her and Jason. Who in this story is her love interest. I don't want to give away too much of the story, But I would definitely say this was a read well worth checking out. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read it and share how I felt about it. I can't wait to read more from this this author in the future! I recommend this book to those who like survival styles stories with secrets and enough banter to round it up!

I loved this book. Sariah Wilson delivered a likable, determined and driven, strong female lead. I read this after the election in November 2024 and found so many lines relevant to today's conversation, which was interesting. This book kept me invested and excited for the sequel.

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson – 4 stars
First of all, excuse me, but the ending? Looking forward to the next book!
Now back to the main thing. This story is inspired by Greek mythology and features very interesting worldbuilding. It follows Princess Lia of Locris, a slowly dying kingdom that must provide two young girls as tribute every year in the name of the Goddess. This is "a many-years" price of forgiveness for a mistake made a thousand years ago. But enough is enough—Lia decides it’s within her power to change things and save her kingdom and homeland. And that’s how the story begins.
I had a bit hard time with this book. The beginning and the ending kept me hooked, but in the middle, I felt like I was losing interest. I think if the book were 200 pages shorter, it wouldn’t have lost anything important. This story has a strong FMC and she’s kinda badass, so if it’s not your cup of tea, you might want to skip it. Despite my struggles, I still enjoyed the book. It has a good number of twists and turns, even though some were fairly predictable for me, but they were still engaging. To be honest, I really enjoyed the connection between Lia and her temple sisters. That gave me more emotional depth than the connection between Lia and Jason, which I struggled with. Sometimes I just wanted to scream to Lia stop being so horny. All that said, I do think this story has great potential. It will be interesting to see how things unfold in the next book—and how, exactly, dragons fit into this whole mess.

Publisher: Montlake | Pub Date Nov 01 2024
Pages: 527
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this!! The world building was phenomenal and easy to follow. The enemies to lovers was so good! I am anxiously awaiting book 2!!

This is a truly great read and had me hooked from
The very beginning! I honestly didn’t expect for the female friendships to be the highlight of this book for me but I love reading it. Girl tribe is special!

The world building is immersive, drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, which I enjoyed a lot. Then there’s the tension between the MCs and it was toooo goood!

That cliffhanger killed me though!! I cannot wait for more.

This has been one of my most favourite reads of the year! Mythology, feminine rage, strong women, hidden identity and trials.

Our fmc is on a mission to save her city from an ancient curse the goddess laid upon their land. Her life is thrown on the line but she’s prepared for exactly this but when the time comes she’s thrown an absolute wild card and must rethink her entire plan.

Enemy to lovers with slow burn (it seems like it starts off hot but works into a fantastic slow burn). There’s mythical creatures and so many secrets. This was such a captivating part 1 but get ready for that cliffhanger!

A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson is book one in The Eye of the Goddess series and it was so good!! I have quickly become a big fan of all of her writing. If you like forbidden love, hidden identities, strong FMC, closed door, secrets/betrayals, action packed, romantasy then you will love this book!!

Wilson did an amazing job with her first fantasy book. I did not want to put this book down. This story came in at around 500 pages but it was full of drama, battles, twists and turns, secrets and betrayals. The world building was done so well, it had magic and was influenced by Greek mythology. The characters were written and developed so well. Lia has been training to participate as tribute in Ilion. She must find the eye of the goddess to break the curse that’s been placed on her country. The game changes when her adoptive sister is chosen to escort her on this mission. Now she must not only save her country but also try to keep her sister alive. Along the way she meets Jason, the Ilion sailor she cannot stop thinking about and finds herself drawn to even when she is asleep. This is definitely a must read…I promise you will be as captivated by this book like I was but just know you will be left on a cliffhanger, wanting more!! Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake, and Sariah Wilson for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Enjoyed the world building and found family dynamics in this book. I wish there had been a bit more relationship building between the main couple, as it was definitely "love at first sight."
I thought the plot twists were good but I had some suspicions throughout the book, so nothing truly surprised me.
Regardless, I am very interested to see where this story goes from here!

Wow this book!

The slow burn of this is agonisingly delicious! You never know what’s real and what’s not!

Lia is a strong FMC and she fights for what she believes in! She has to fight for her life, figure out a new life in a new place, fighting her desire and what she believes she must do!

Jason the main love interest is a sailor who meets Lia unexpectedly. He is charming and alluring and best of all forbidden!

This cliff hanger had my jaw to the floor at the end! I need the next book right this second!! I can’t stop thinking about it!

Thank you, NetGalley, Montlake and Sariah Wilson for this book.

This is not my normal genre, but had to read it since I have enjoyed other books by this author. I had trouble getting into it, but only because I'm not used to this genre. It was enjoyable once I got used to the writing and setting. The characters and the plot drew me. I'm still not sure if this genre is for me, but I did enjoy this book.

I am so excited for the next installment in this book - Be warned it ends in a cliff hanger BUT don't let it put you off reading this beautiful masterpiece.
A tribute of fire is a brilliant, amazing book which focuses on the female lead Lia.
She's is a powerful, tough baddie who wants and needs to protect her sister as ultimately they both end up in danger.
The plot twists in this book i didn't see coming and it is absolutely amazing, Sariah Wilson has created an amazing book for someone who wants a romantic, fantasy based book which will keep you on your toes and staying up late to keep reading on. The characters, development , ending ( although cliffhanger) has just been brilliant to read.

This was a very interesting book. I loved the inspiration from Greek Mythology and the plot is very unique. The idea of the chase was crazy but I loved that entire scene. Overall I really enjoyed this book but struggled with the main characters. I’m not sure how to feel about them yet as this book is setting up so much for the rest of the story. I think I’ll like Jason and Lia more in the second after reading the ending. I had been waiting for something more from him. I’m still so curious about the magic and the history of the goddess/priestesses as there seems to be a lot missing or has been changed over time. There’s definitely a lot to figure out!

If you are looking for a new book with a strong FMC , Greek mythology, a different take on enemies to lovers, slow burn, phenomenal banter, found family, an insane plot twist, betrayal, then this is the book for you.

So let's get into a brief overview of the plot
Our FMC, Lia, is the princess of Locris which is an impoverished desert nation that has been cursed by an earth goddess. Meanwhile, the opposing nation of Ilion has been blessed by the goddess and every year Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice, two Locrian maidens. The two maidens are forced to compete in a life and death race from the port to the temple of the goddess and in a millenia not one maiden has made it there alive because the
majority of the male citizens of Ilion hunt the maidens throughout their labyrinth maze of a city on the way. Lia has been training for this very event so she is not surprised when she is one of the chosen maidens this year. What does surprise her is when her very untrained sister Quynh is chosen as the other maiden. As if Lia's life isn't difficult enough, she finds herself drawn to an Ilionian sailor, Jason who is part of the crew taking her to her certain doom
I don't want to give too much away but our plot just gets crazier from there and I absolutely adored it.

I want to give a few reasons why I loved this book and what made it stand out from other fantasy romance books I have read. While there are a multitude of reasons, one of the biggest was our FMC Lia, I absolutely loved her. She is strong willed, selfless, and her character development is seriously top tier. The romance in this book was also phenomenal. Nothing felt forced and the character's chemistry was so palpable I was obsessing over them. P.S. The banter is SO good!!! Our MMC is sassy and hilarious. The found family and sisterhood piece of this story was so beautiful and touching as well. This entire aspect of the story was so touching and really pulled at my heartstrings in the absolute best way. And finally, the world building was perfect and there really was no filler which I loved.This book is great for beginner and seasoned fantasy readers which is why I know it will be one of my favorites to recommend.

And of course there is literally the most insane cliffhanger that had me semi depressed this was an arc because I know I will need to wait a bit for Book 2 but I am so excited!

This book follows Lia, the princess of a cursed desert kingdom, is forced into a deadly race that takes place every year.

This book was very fast paced and engaging from the beginning! The romance was chef’s kiss! I had fun reading this book, but the cliffhanger was criminal😭 I honestly lost sleep staying up to finish this book. But I don’t regret it!

Thank you to @talesandteacupspr for the ARC!

A Tribute of Fire follows the story of Lia, a princess of Locris, as she becomes one of the two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-or-death race to reach the temple of an earth goddess. However, unlike the other maidens, Lia has trained for this to give herself a fighting chance. Lia must face more challenges than she plans to as her untrained sister Quynh is put in danger, the Ilion city’s labyrinthine maze is not what she expected, and she finds herself reluctantly drawn to Jason, an attractive Ilionian sailor she finds herself blindly trusting. Will she be able to break the curse the earth goddess as put on her home land and restore it to it’s past glory?

When I first started reading this book, it took me a bit to get into, but once I did, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Especially after Lia left for the city of Ilion. I was invested to find out how she planned to help her city while also trying to find the temple. I also enjoyed how much mystery was left at the end of the book to make me want to come back for more. There is so much we have yet to learn about the temple and what is going on with the priestesses, I hope the next book will answer all my burning questions.

I also loved the aspect of the found families throughout the story. I enjoyed how it was a big part of her life even before coming to the temple. I was happy to see her make the connection with others at the temple as well.

The love interest was very ‘attraction at first sight’ and I am interested to hear what is causing their connection in the next book. I will say, I was stuck on his name being Jason after so many other characters had such unique names. But I enjoyed the banter they shared when they weren’t making out.

This book was full of twists that had me excited to keep reading, and I found myself sad when it was over because I would have to wait for the next book to read more. I have already recommended this to all my friends to read and keep finding myself thinking about the book. I recommend this book to people who like a strong FMC, found families, hidden identities, and lots of secrets, but are not looking for a ton of spice. Thank you, Sariah Wilson and Netgalley, for providing me with an advance copy for my honest review.

The Tribute of Fire intrigued me with its unique premise and intricate world-building, and I found the writing style easy to follow and engaging. The author has a way of pulling you into the world with vivid details, and while I appreciated the effort to create such a rich setting, I felt like much of the book was spent on setup. The main action didn’t kick in until the last 10%, which made the pacing feel slow at times. That said, the ending was incredible and the cliffhanger left me so curious that I know I’ll pick up the next book.

The romance felt more like physical attraction than a deep connection. Since the two characters were apart for most of the story, their relationship didn’t feel like a significant focus of the story. But I can see it potentially becoming a stronger element in the next book and I’m curious to see how it develops.

Overall, while this book leaned heavily on world-building and setup, I stayed engaged because of the accessible writing style and intriguing premise. The last chapter truly delivered, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. If you enjoy books with immersive worlds and don’t mind a slower build, this could be a great choice.

Here’s the review in the same format as before:

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🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ (4.5/5 stars)

*A Tribute of Fire* by Sariah Wilson is an electrifying adventure packed with high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and a heroine who refuses to back down. 🔥👑

Lia, a warrior princess of the cursed desert kingdom of Locris, is thrust into the perilous tribute game—a deadly ritual where Locrian maidens race through the labyrinthine streets of Ilion to reach the goddess’s temple. With centuries of failure weighing on her shoulders and her untrained sister at risk, Lia’s determination is tested at every turn. But as she navigates the maze, she finds herself torn between her hatred for Ilion and her undeniable attraction to Jason, a charismatic sailor from her enemy’s land. 🌵⚔️❤️

Wilson masterfully weaves heart-pounding tension with intricate world-building, creating a vivid backdrop of cursed lands and divine intrigue. Lia is a fierce, resourceful heroine, and the slow-burn romance with Jason adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story. The twists and turns of the tribute game keep you guessing until the final page. 🌀🌟

Perfect for fans of *The Hunger Games* and *The Wrath and the Dawn*, this novel is a spellbinding tale of resilience, sacrifice, and hope. Don’t miss this thrilling journey into a world where every decision can mean life or death. 📖🔥

<b>I didn't know how time flew away while reading A Tribute To Fire by Sariah Wilson. I was lost in this world of myth, suspense and action. It is like a collaboration between Hunger Games and Dark Academy romance. Lia is trying to change the fate of her nation but the journey will be treacherous. She is brave and fierce but even her body and mind have limits. Specially when manipulation and secrets ruin everything. This fantasy romance was exceptionally well written with an impressively diverse cast of characters. The romance is still at a precarious stage because the ending destroyed me.</b>

It's so hard to review this book without spoilers. This ends with a heart stopping cliffhanger. I did see that twist coming but I prayed that it won't be true. Lia or Euthalia is the princess of Locria. A kingdom that has been cursed and abandoned by The Earth Goddess and that's why it's dying. The curse is also bound to the tribute. Where two maidens are sent to Ilonians as tribute where they have to run for the temple while hunted by the Illonian men. No one ever made it.

But Lia made it. She trained in secret. She plotted and planned so that she can reach the temple and retrieve the eye of the Goddess. She paid the dear cost of losing her sister on the way. The temple isn't exactly a welcoming place either. She spends every day trying to achieve her goal while learning about the religion and history and myths. She did found a sisterhood with her adelphia. And Jason. The sexy arrogant sailor who is helping her. And the man who has claimed her heart. But at the end..with battered body and bruised mind..she is afraid that everything is ruined.

The plot is fast paced and action packed. I was holding my breath so many times when Lia faced the obstacles and almost lost. My heart breaks for her but it also feels extremely proud of her. The author subtly put many contemporary issues like gender discrimination, women's rights, religious fanaticism, evils of war and many more. So despite being fantasy, it resonates with everyone. Lia's sisterhood in temple gave me so much hope and warmth. But there were not many quiet moments. From the beginning, Jason was a puzzle. That man was too charming and too smooth talking and too sexy and too intense for to be true. I am still believing in the best. But the cliffhanger left me sad and restless.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

A journey to better her homeland this was a fun romantasy.
The built up to the beginning was a tad slow and political aspects were tough to get thru but the dynamic between the characters and jovial dialogue made the story enjoyable.
I think this is a good introduction for Sariah into the romantasy realm.